Word Study
capsicum
CIDE DICTIONARY
capsicum, n. [NL., fr. L. capsa box, chest.].
- A genus of plants of many species, producing capsules or dry berries of various forms, which have an exceedingly pungent, biting taste, and when ground form the red or Cayenne pepper of commerce. [1913 Webster]" The most important species are
Capsicum baccatum or bird pepper,Capsicum fastigiatum or chili pepper,Capsicum frutescens or spur pepper (from which tabasco is obtained),Capsicum chinense , which includes the fiery-hot habanero pepper, andCapsicum annuum or Guinea pepper, which includes the bell pepper, the jalapeno pepper, the cayenne pepper, and other common garden varieties. The fruit is much used, both in its green and ripe state, in pickles and in cookery. These contain varying levels of the substancecapsaicin (C18H27O3N ), which gives the peppers their hot taste. The habanero is about 25-50 times hotter than the jalapeno according to a scale developed byWilbur Scoville in 1912. See alsoCayenne pepper ,pepper and http://www.chili-pepper-plants.com/." [1913 Webster] - Any plant of the genus
Capsicum (of theSolanaceae family, which are unrelated toPiper ), and its fruit; red pepper; chili pepper; as, thebell pepper and thejalapeno pepper (bothCapsicum annuum ) and thehabanero pepper (Capsicum chinense ); . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
capsicum, n.
1 any plant of the genus Capsicum, having edible capsular fruits containing many seeds, esp. C. annuum yielding several varieties of pepper.
2 the fruit of any of these plants, which vary in size, colour, and pungency.
1 any plant of the genus Capsicum, having edible capsular fruits containing many seeds, esp. C. annuum yielding several varieties of pepper.
2 the fruit of any of these plants, which vary in size, colour, and pungency.
Etymology
mod.L, perh. f. L capsa box
ROGET THESAURUS
capsicum
Condiment
N condiment, seasoning, sauce, spice, relish, appetizer, salt, mustard, grey poupon mustard, pepper, black pepper, white pepper, peppercorn, curry, sauce piquante, caviare, onion, garlic, pickle, achar, allspice, bell pepper, Jamaica pepper, green pepper, chutney, cubeb, pimento, capsicum, red pepper, chili peppers, cayenne, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, oregano, cloves, fennel, pot herbs, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, marjoram, frankincense, balm, myrrh, paprika, saffron, ginger, turmeric.For further exploring for "capsicum" in Webster Dictionary Online
